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Pre-flight Your Rig!
by Tony Domenico
Introduction
Yes, you are a skydiver, but after deployment
you are also the pilot of a low performance, gliding aircraft. As a pilot you
are responsible for the airworthiness of your aircraft. To insure this
airworthiness an inspection of the aircraft must be made before each and every
flight. This is called a pre-flight. Pilots of all different types of aircraft
perform pre-flights routinely and, as a skydiver, this is a good habit to
develop.
Over the last ten years of skydiving I have developed a pre-flight system for
my rig. This pre-flight takes only a few seconds to perform and insures that my
equipment is in sound operating condition prior to my flight. There is no way to
tell whether my pre-flight system has saved me a reserve ride or prevented a
possible problem in the past. I have seen, heard of, and read about numerous
reserve rides and even fatalities that this pre-flight system would have
prevented. So, by adopting this system you will become a much safer skydiver and
lower your chances of ever having a problem with your equipment.
This pre-flight is a simple inspection using your eyes and hands to insure
all accessible parts of your equipment are in proper operating condition.
The Pre-flight
Part One
Before you put your rig on, prior to each and every jump, do the
following:
- Uncover your reserve pin, look to see that the pin is at least half to
three quarters pushed into the reserve loop.
- If possible, grasp the reserve cable between the reserve pin and the
reserve cable housing (not possible on a Racer), move the cable in and out of
the housing, visually inspect the other end of the reserve cable at the ripcord
and insure that the cable moves freely through the housing. This helps insure
there are no small pebbles or other foreign objects in the housing that could
prevent you from pulling your reserve.
- Insure that the ripcord is seated securely in the ripcord pocket.
- Insure that the cutaway handle is securely fastened to the harness and see
that the ends of the cutaway cable housings are securely tacked to the harness
or that the housing ends are routed through the chest strap like on a Vector,
Javelin or Talon.
- Inspect the three rings to see that they are assembled correctly. Insure
that the little loops pass through the hole on the end of the cutaway housings
and that the ends of the cutaway cable pass through the little loops.
- Uncover and expose the main deployment pin, insure the pin is one half to
fully into the main closing loop. Insure that the pin is pointed either
horizontally or upwards with the small end of the pin pointing towards the
reselve and the hole in the pin towards the bottom of the container. Avoid
having the deployment pin pointed downward. This reduces the chances of the pin
being pushed out while sitting or moving around in the aircraft.
- Using your fingers, follow the bridle both directions insuring that the
Velcro is mated securely and that the bridle is tucked in its proper place. Then
follow the bridle to the pilot chute, again insuring the Velcro is properly
mated and there is no loop in the bridle material that could snag and catch
something in the aircraft, during exit or in free fall.
- Insure that the pilot chute handle is exposed and that all the extra
bridle material is neatly stowed in the pilot chute pocket. Insure that the
pilot chute will come out easily by gently pulling it out part way and then
pushing it back in.
- Close your pin protector flaps and you are ready to put your rig on.
Part Two
Perform this quick inspection directly after putting your rig on and
in the aircraft prior to jumping.
- Check both the ripcord handle and cutaway handle to see that they are both
seated securely in their proper place and are not hidden from your view or
grasp.
- Check to see that your chest strap is routed correctly and the end is
stowed.
- Check to see that your leg straps are routed correctly through the
hardware.
- Check to see that your pilot chute handle is exposed and is easy to grasp.
Develop the Habit
Safety is a habit; get in the habit of
performing a good pre-flight on your equipment before each and every jump -
especially any jump on which you are rushed while dirt diving and/or getting to
the airplane. I double check my gear on those jumps.
With practice, this pre-flight literally takes seconds to perform and gives
you added confidence in your equipment.
Note: The pre-flight above was written for a rig with a throw out deployment
system, it can easily be adapted to a pull out deployment system.
Safe jumping!
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